ND safety Tom Zbikowski will make his professional fight debut on June 10, Yes -- read that again -- he will fight pro in five days -- for the sum of $25,000. Per his promoter, Top Rank's' Bob Arum, ''Everybody knows Tommy is a great football player. People now realize he started boxing even before he started playing football. Boxing's been a passion for Tommy. He was a top amateur fighter with a very impressive [75-15] record in the Chicago area and now we look forward to him showing his stuff in Madison Square Garden."

Zbikowski is likely going to be picked in the first round of the NFL draft next year, but said he will continue to train as a boxer and be a boxing fan even after he is drafted.

''I know a lot of NFL coaches and owners are not going to like that,'' he said. ''But I really hope to.''

Zib's an unbelieveably fast safety, and would have a ST like impact for whatever team drafted him. I think his boxing career shows how versatile of a player he can be.

Im a bit biased of course; I do know the guy personally. He was our QB at Buffalo Grove when I was a Freshman (his Sr. year). But still, he's got unbelieveable playmaking skills, and is the best athlete I've ever seen.

He has two years of eligibility left, but will likely get his bachelor's from ND and graduate after this season. If he goes pro in both football and boxing, he would be one of the few modern two sport athletes.

Enough Tommy banter. Are there any other modern two sport athletes (with football as one of the sports) that you can name? I cant think of any off the top of my head at 3:30 AM.

EDIT-Jarrad Page from UCLA was drafted by the Chiefs and the Athletics (I think it was the Athletics).

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will he still be eligble to play football for nd if he fights professionally??

That Guy, you probably know if this is a conflict for him. isnt that the same type of thing that that eagles rookie bloom was going through? he was considered not eligible after he recieved money for skiing.

will he still be eligble to play football for nd if he fights professionally??

That Guy, you probably know if this is a conflict for him. isnt that the same type of thing that that eagles rookie bloom was going through? he was considered not eligible after he recieved money for skiing.

As long as he doesn't accept a sponsorship deal, he remains eligible.

__________________ according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

will he still be eligble to play football for nd if he fights professionally??

That Guy, you probably know if this is a conflict for him. isnt that the same type of thing that that eagles rookie bloom was going through? he was considered not eligible after he recieved money for skiing.

what GTripp said, NCAA rules are stupid and bloom got screwed just because his parents weren't rich enough to PAY the full cost so that he could represent his country.

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either bell is a total stiff or Zb was right to want to continue boxing...

Zb iss the SS that returns kickoffs for ND isn't he? not very fast, but I remember watching him take one 22 yards for a TD or some such last year...

Commentators don't think he's fast because he's white. Sad but true. He holds the school record at our high school in the 100 meter and has been timed under 4.3 in the 40. He's an excellent return man.

__________________ according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

Commentators don't think he's fast because he's white. Sad but true. He holds the school record at our high school in the 100 meter and has been timed under 4.3 in the 40. He's an excellent return man.

looked it up, my bad. he ran a 4.42 in college workouts, which is fast for a safety (and not terrible for a corner)

"was named Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 19 following his performance at Michigan State as he had a team-high nine tackles, forced a fumble and returned it for a 75-yard touchdown and had an interception against that he returned for 22 yards to set up another Irish score."

that was in 2004, but it seems to be the game I remember best...

currently rated as the #22 draft prospect, outside of the huge money, so boxing may not be AS big a deal. No one wants a starter risking injury like that in the offseason though.

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